Acts 14 : Easy-to-Read Version
Paul and Barnabas in Iconium
14 1Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Iconium. They entered the Jewish synagogue.* (This is what they did in every city.) They spoke to the people there. Paul and Barnabas spoke so well that many Jews and Greeks (non-Jews) believed what they said. 2But some of the Jews did not believe. These Jews excited the non-Jewish people and made them think bad things about the brothers (believers). 3So Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium a long time, and they spoke bravely for the Lord. Paul and Barnabas told the people about God's grace (kindness). The Lord proved that what they said was true by helping the apostles* (Paul and Barnabas) do miracles and wonders.* 4But some of the people in the city agreed with the Jews. Other people in the city believed Paul and Barnabas. So the city was divided. 5Some non-Jewish people, some Jews, and their Jewish leaders tried to hurt Paul and Barnabas. These people wanted to kill them with rocks. 6When Paul and Barnabas learned about this, they left that city. They went to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and to the areas around those cities. 7They told the Good News* there too.
Paul in Lystra and Derbe
8In Lystra there was a man who had something wrong with his feet. He had been born crippled; he had never walked. 9This man was sitting and listening to Paul speak. Paul looked at him. Paul saw that the man believed that God could heal him. 10So Paul shouted, "Stand up on your feet!" The man jumped up and began walking around. 11When the people saw what Paul did, they shouted in their own Lycaonian language. They said, "The gods have become like men! They have come down to us!" 12The people began to call Barnabas "Zeus."* They called Paul "Hermes,"* because he was the main speaker. 13The temple of Zeus was near the city. The priest of this temple brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. The priest and the people wanted to give an offering to [worship] Paul and Barnabas. 14But when the apostles,* Barnabas and Paul, understood what the people were doing, they tore their own clothes.* Then they ran in among the people and shouted to them: 15"Men, why are you doing these things? We are not gods! We have the same feelings as you have! We came to tell you the Good News.* We are telling you to turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the true living God. He is the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. 16In the past, God let all the nations do what they wanted. 17But God did things that prove he is real: He does good things for you. He gives you rain from the sky. He gives you good harvests at the right times. He gives you plenty of food, and he fills your hearts with joy." 18Paul and Barnabas told the people these things. But still Paul and Barnabas almost could not stop the people from offering sacrifices to [worship] them. 19Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They persuaded the people to be against Paul. And so the people threw rocks at Paul and dragged him out of the town. The people thought that they had killed Paul. 20The followers [of Jesus] gathered around Paul and he got up and went back into the town. The next day, he and Barnabas left and went to the city of Derbe.
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21Paul and Barnabas told the Good News* in the city of Derbe too. Many people became followers [of Jesus]. Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. 22In those cities Paul and Barnabas made the followers [of Jesus] stronger. They helped them to stay in the faith. Paul and Barnabas said, "We must suffer many things on our way into God's kingdom." 23Paul and Barnabas chose elders* for each church (group of believers). They fasted* and prayed for these elders. These elders were men who had trusted the Lord [Jesus.] So Paul and Barnabas put them in the Lord's care. 24Paul and Barnabas went through the country of Pisidia. Then they came to the country of Pamphylia. 25They told people the message* [of God] in the city of Perga, and then they went down to the city of Attalia. 26And from there Paul and Barnabas sailed away to Antioch [in Syria]. This is the city where the believers had put them into God's care and sent them to do this work. Now they had finished the work. 27When Paul and Barnabas arrived, they gathered the church (group of believers) together. Paul and Barnabas told them about all the things God had done with them. They said, "God opened a door so that the people of other nations (non-Jews) could also believe!" 28Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time with the followers [of Christ*].
synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. miracles and wonders Amazing works or great things done by the power of God. Good News, message The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. Zeus The most important of the many Greek gods. Hermes Another Greek god. The Greeks believed he was a messenger for the other gods. tore ... clothes This showed they were very angry. elders A group of men chosen to lead a church. Also called "overseers" and "pastors" ("shepherds"), they have the work of caring for God's people (Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11; Tit. 1:7,9). fasted To fast is to live without food for a time of prayer or mourning. message, Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God.